New Zealand women's hockey team to wait out delay in Hong Kong

The New Zealand women's hockey team will hole up in Hong Kong this weekend and await the go-ahead to New Delhi next week.

'We are happy to step in and help them, and are making all the arrangements,' said Hong Kong Football Club's Simon Chapman. 'We have been in contact with officials from Hockey New Zealand and it is confirmed that the women's squad will arrive in Hong Kong on Saturday.'

The hockey team will stay until Wednesday before departing for Delhi. Members of the New Zealand athletics team are also in Hong Kong, using the Sports Institute in Sha Tin.

New Zealand coach Mark Hager said the Hong Kong stopover would not affect his team's preparations as they would still be able to acclimatise to warmer and humid conditions. Chapman said there were plans to arrange some practice games at the Sports Road club for the visitors.

There is also the possibility that the New Zealand bowls team would stop over in Hong Kong.